Don’t get caught booking a fake ski holiday this season with our expert tips below.
It’s that time of year again when millions of people around the world look to spend their hard earned income on a delightful holiday in the mountains.
But this also means it’s that time of year again where the unlucky few book a fake ski holiday for 2019/20.
If you would like to know more about how to prevent getting scammed or just looking for a trustworthy ski operator to book your holiday with, give us a call on 020 8877 8888
Fake Ski Holiday Top Tips
Fake Chalets
Chalet Scams are not new but the lure of a cheap ski holiday deal is just too much and some people are falling for the scam handing over thousands of pounds to people posing as the owner of a chalet in popular destinations around the Alps.
In previous years, the Powder White sales team have spoken to a number of people who unfortunately lost their ski deposit (£500-£1000) from booking a fake ski holiday before they booked with us.
After hearing this, we felt it was our duty to blog about how to avoid and recognise the signs of a holiday scam.
Avoid Booking A Fake Ski Holiday
From our sales teams experience and hours of research, it is easy to stay safe & avoid booking a fake ski holiday with our top tips:
1.Too good to be true?
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is… sorry to say. Let’s say, you have been researching ski chalets for the price of £899 for a specific date and you come across a similar one for half the price or less, I would be very cautious… If you get this feeling, follow the next points to go into further research.
2. Talk to others
Ask your friends or people in ski forums if they have heard of the company. Last year The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau found RightSki.com and ChaletHunter.com to have been set up by fraudsters using fake details and false information. Still struggling? Drop us an email and we can give you further advice and reassurance chalets@powderwhite.com
3. Airbnb scams.
So Airbnb is a legitimate website, but the people on there might not be. We have just conducted a quick search for Chalets in St Anton and all the below are FAKE! How can we tell? Let us explain all below.
Have a look at this example…
Let’s now have a look at the photos…
Use this Google image search on not just the chalet images but also the profile pictures they use as you will see if it has been taken from a real person or use multiple times on other accounts.
4. Email/Call Them!
If you are suspicious at all make sure the website gives full company details – address, registered number – which is a legal requirement, and then try and check those details independently of the website. All UK companies have to be registered with company house as mentioned in the Daily Mail article.
All official companies will have an email or phone number you can call for further reassurance.
5. ATOL Protected
See if they are ATOL protected. This will indicate they are an official company and also if there are any problems with the company, your holiday is protected.
You can easily do this by locating their ATOL number (6860 – Powder White Ltd) and searching for it on the ATOL website. Remember… anyone with a laptop can add a certified logo onto their page. Do your research!
At Powder White, we offer all our customers 100% Financial protection as well as being ATOL protected so you can book with confidence online.
6. Social Media Scams
Be careful with what details you share on social media. Avoid announcing your holiday details such as when you will be away and what you have booked as scammers will use these details to email you about and try to steal extra payments off you.
7. Pay With Your Credit Card
Always pay your deposit with a credit card which provides additional insurance and cover in the event that things go wrong (we highly recommend paying your deposit with your credit card). Do not hand your financial details to sellers from abroad who contacted you out of the blue. It sounds obvious now, but we have heard about this situation too many times!
Under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974
“If the debtor under a debtor-creditor-supplier agreement falling within section 12(b) or (c) has, in relation to a transaction financed by the agreement, any claim against the supplier in respect of a misrepresentation or breach of contract, he shall have a like claim against the creditor, who, with the supplier, shall accordingly be jointly and severally liable to the debtor.”
So if you’re buying something or ordering tickets or flights worth more than £100, pay for some or all of it on a credit card to ensure you’re protected.
8. Reputable Tour Operator
Always book with a reputable tour operator or travel agent. Whether you use a rental website, you should still be able to see who the operator is.
Like many big ski tour operators, Powder White has a strong history of customer satisfaction and experience to provide guest with the peace of mind when booking a ski holiday. We understand the importance of getting you to the mountains to enjoy a well deserved holiday.
If you would like to know more about how to prevent getting scammed or just looking for a trustworthy ski operator to book your holiday with, give us a call on 020 8877 8888